Deinfluencing: Why Do We Buy So Much Stuff?
By Noelle George
Edited by Taylor Morgan
Many of us are guilty of buying things we do not need. From asking a friend where their new sweatshirt is from, to seeing the same product pop up on your for-you page to walking down TJ Maxx aisles, it’s easy to find yourself making unnecessary, but fun, purchases.
We are constantly bombarded with messages that we need more. Highly effective marketing strategies have been constantly refined over the past 50 years, and an increasingly digitized society means that ideas circulate faster than ever before. Planned obsolescence is a marketing strategy where products have been designed to have a short “life span,” meaning they go out of fashion, become irrelevant or even break faster than they should. Clothing, water bottles, cars and iPhones are all examples of how the newest, best products are constantly being cycled through.
The idea of planned obsolescence can also be seen in trends. Many people value feeling included and socially connected, and also look up to celebrities and influencers who often promote overconsumption. Whether conscious or not, our society places value on possessions. By buying the latest and greatest products, we are subliminally signalling to others that we are cool and relevant, and also wealthy.
Celebrities and influencers make it look normal and easy to constantly be buying. Social media trends make it seem like a new product, for example, vibration plates, are the most important thing to own. The algorithm may make it seem like everyone owns one, which can make us feel left out. This trend cycle can be repeated for nearly any product. Seeing so many people singing the praises of any one product—no matter how impractical, expensive or unnecessary—is a huge factor in our buying patterns today.
I am not encouraging you to stop buying things altogether, but instead of giving in to the momentary urge to click “add to cart,” I encourage you to stop and consider why you are buying that product. Are you hoping to impress someone? Are you buying it for a rush of dopamine? Do you actually need what you are buying, or do you already have something that serves the same purpose?
This semester, I challenged myself to not buy any new clothes. It’s a small step, but it has pushed me to be creative with my wardrobe because I am extremely lucky to already have so many clothes that are fun and serve their purpose. Making a small step like this is a good way to start being more intentional about your purchasing habits. Your wallet and the planet will thank you.
The piece on deinfluencing really hits home regarding how easily social media algorithms push us toward buying things we never knew we wanted. It is fascinating how planned obsolescence and constant trend cycles make overconsumption feel like a normal part of daily life. Balancing media studies, applying structural techniques to analyze modern consumer behavior during research projects, and keeping up with a heavy university workload can quickly turn into a stressful juggling act during exam season. During an especially intense term last year when marketing psychology reports, literature reviews, and end-of-year milestone essays all landed at the exact same time, a classmate mentioned seeking structured support through New Assignment Help to keep their study schedules organized and manageable. Having that…
Articles about deinfluencing raise an important point about how easily choices can be shaped by external pressure, trends and persuasive messaging. Taking time to reflect on what is actually needed can lead to more thoughtful and responsible decisions.
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This is such a timely reflection on how modern marketing algorithms and rapid trend cycles push us into impulse buying without questioning if we genuinely need more. The point about planned obsolescence and chasing short-lived social media validation really hits home, especially during busy semesters when stress can make quick retail therapy feel so tempting. Balancing lifestyle choices, personal budget, and intense university workloads takes a lot of intentional focus—much like when students rely on dependable Assessment Help to manage overwhelming academic deadlines. Taking a step back to evaluate what truly adds value to our lives, both in our shopping carts and in our daily routines, is a habit more of us need to cultivate.
I really felt the part about planned obsolescence—it’s wild how things are designed to fall apart just so we’ll buy more. Also guilty of the TJ Maxx impulse buys, honestly. By the way, I keep a free recipe site for late-night cravings I like to share: https://foodnevercomes.net/
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